Letters to the Editor - The Durango Herald

Trending:

Thank the Democrats

I would like to remind some of my Republican friends of some facts that they may have forgotten. For those people who receive Social Security benefits in their bank account every month witho...

DATE: Oct 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Robert Logan for CU Regent

Voters from Congressional District 3 will elect our representative to the University of Colorado Board of Regents this November. The CU Board of Regents oversees major decisions made for the...

DATE: Oct 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Next Step a tumble

Do we really need a “Next Step” project? The Herald article (Sept. 22) made it obvious Next Step should indeed be a nonstarter. Why mess with success? Durango isn’t exactly falling of the tu...

DATE: Oct 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Getting power using chaos

“Chaos is power.” That well-known quote comes from Steve Bannon, the same man who has Trump’s ear and is listened to unquestioningly. It also is a maxim for any strongman wannabe who has gra...

DATE: Oct 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 127

The misrepresentation of facts about Proposition 127 and the Herald’s subsequent decision to recommend a “no” vote (Editorial, Sept. 22) deserves rebuttal. Prop. 127 would outlaw trophy hunt...

DATE: Sep 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

The threat of treason: When is enough enough?

Treason: The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one’s country, by force or corruption. Isn’t that what Trump did on Jan. 6, 2020? Is it not treason for the architects of Pr...

DATE: Sep 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Restore balance with your vote

After attending last night’s forum for our local candidates, it became obvious that we are getting double talk from two Democrat candidates. Katie Stewart says she is a candidate for all, bu...

DATE: Sep 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Fall visitor

Gray, furry little mouse You ate what’s not intended So I lured you to a trap last night Life is not open-ended That I could freely do that act I find it’s hard believing For if my problem i...

DATE: Sep 27, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Bark beetles could threaten Boggy Draw

San Juan National Forest (SJNF) staff mislead the public on native bark beetle outbreaks in our forests, often wanting to just cut more trees to stop natural disturbances, but why, to save t...

DATE: Sep 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Paul Black good for business

I have lived in Durango for several years, and it is clear we need a fresh perspective on business development and permitting in La Plata County. Small businesses play a vital role in creati...

DATE: Sep 26, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Candidates support ‘The State’ being in charge with women losing freedoms

Warning! Two candidates for our Colorado Assembly have stated they will ignore 51% of their constituency, the women and girls of HD59 and SD6. They are elderly males. They are Clark Craig an...

DATE: Sep 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Slow down: Time’s a’wastin’

To tell you the truth, I think maybe society isn’t a very healthy to be in with today’s technology, AI (artificial intelligence) and all the techies who keep coming up with more new and cons...

DATE: Sep 21, 2024 | CATEGORY: Letters to the Editor

Final phases of project underway at Camino del Rio and Main Avenue

Photos: Marching for women’s rightsDurango Women’s March on Saturday starts at Buckley Park, continues down Main Avenue

Durango Women’s March on Saturday starts at Buckley Park, continues down Main Avenue

Photos: Durango High School football DHS beat Vista Ridge 20-14 at home Friday night

DHS beat Vista Ridge 20-14 at home Friday night

Gallery: Animals, super heroes and other creatures take over Main Avenue

Photos: A fun and spooky day at school

Haunted house northeast of Durango gets bigger every yearCody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Durango resident Cody Petersen said when he moved into his home at 15 Edgemont Way several years ago, his house on the corner looked lonely and spooky.Today, it’s a madhouse. Halloween decorations are splayed practically on every inch of his lawn, in the trees and up and down his home.

A group of school-aged kids stop in front of his house every day to pose with a little gothic doll in the lawn, he said. It’s the favorite attraction amongst hundreds of decorations Petersen bought locally and online as early as July in preparation for Oct. 31, Halloween.He said he doesn’t want to think about how much money he’s spent on fog machines, animatronics and Christmas lights, but the bill easily totals several thousands of dollars.

For trick-or-treaters on Halloween, whom he encourages to visit, jumpscares abound at Petersen’s home, featuring animatronic spiders, growling wolves and other monsters, he said.He’s working on his own animatronic coffin, which shakes and rattles, and a pulley system that will push and pull a ghost up and down the yard, but neither will be ready for this year’s Halloween.He said he has fond memories of his parents decorating for the holidays during his upbringing and he’s a huge horror genre fan. So he enjoys going all out on decorations for the spooky season. He justifies his hobby with the logic his kids will only be in high school a few more years, and it isn’t as cool to decorate the lawn for Halloween when one doesn’t have children living at home.But the neighbors enjoy his haunts as much as the rest of the community. He said his Halloween scene has gradually grown larger every year; at least 50 trick-or-treaters turned up at his home last year.“I'm a home inspector, so I do have a lot of tools and no fear of trying things out,” he said.

He said typical Halloween animatronics cost $400 a piece, but they only last one year or so without breaking. That’s frustrating, he said, and he believes he can do better by building his own.He said this year’s display and experience is more organic than past years thanks to his handiwork. Among his myriad decorations, trick-or-treaters can spot easter eggs referencing “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Pet Sematary.”Among the horror props are real animal bones Petersen said he’s found on hikes across the countryside.“I've got ghosts and spiders and witches and that kind of thing,” he said. “Here in Edgemont, we have giant spiders for real. ... We get these huge wolf spiders that are bigger than my hand. I mean, huge, bigger than tarantulas.”

Petersen said he was motivated to make his first decorations within the first month he and his wife moved into the home on the corner at 15 Edgemont Way.A lone pine tree, a typical Christmas tree that would be strung up with lights and ornaments in December, stood out to Petersen in the yard, he said. He just felt compelled to decorate it and light it up.He said he thoroughly decorated the tree and left it lit year-round. Within a month of moving into the house, his neighbor died. The man was old and suffering from Alzheimer's.

Months later, the man’s wife approached Petersen and told him she and her husband’s last salient moments together were spent looking out at Petersen’s lighted Christmas tree, pretending it was Christmas. In the following hours, the man succumbed to delirium. He died several days later.“I don't know why I had that tree, why I lit it, but that's why that tree, even when Halloween is over, all year round, that Christmas tree always stays lit now,” he said.Petersen is a horror movie fan, and in particular he’s always enjoyed the sinister character Michael Myers of the “Halloween” franchise.

He said every year, after thrilling trick-or-treaters at his home, he takes to downtown and East Third Avenue in his Michael Myers costume, bearing a giant bowl of candy, to continue the fun.The highlight of his yard, the creepy doll neighborhood kids like to pose and take pictures with, is Petersen’s “elf on the shelf,” he said. He likes to move the doll around the house, sometimes propping her up to hold animal bones.“I have a real busy and pretty stressful job,” he said. “I just love the fall so much. And to come home, it's just a good way to wind down and, you know, de-stress, just go out and work in the yard.”cburney@durangoherald.com

Cody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Reader-submitted photos of Halloween decorationsLast week, we asked readers to submit photos of their Halloween decorations or a neighbor’s decorations. We received dozens of photo submissions. We have selected some of the most spooky, elaborate and fun photos to share in this gallery. Enjoy!

Photos: FLC volleyball returns homeFort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Fort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Photos: Expert leathercrafter and collector estate sale near IgnacioItems belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Items belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Photos: Pro boxing in DurangoLegends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

Legends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

‹ Prev
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Next ›

Thank the Democrats

Robert Logan for CU Regent

Next Step a tumble

Getting power using chaos

Vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 127

The threat of treason: When is enough enough?

Restore balance with your vote

Fall visitor

Bark beetles could threaten Boggy Draw

Paul Black good for business

Candidates support ‘The State’ being in charge with women losing freedoms

Slow down: Time’s a’wastin’

Videos & Photos

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us

Videos & Photos

Daily newsletters and breaking news alerts

Search Directory Plus

Most Popular

Most Recent

Ballantine Communications, Inc.

Contact Us

Find Us

Subscribe

Newsletter Signup